Screen Opinions (1923-24)

34 SCREEN OPINIONS TELLS THE TRUTH usually artistic, the cast is good throughout, and with the exception of one or two ultra-extreme touches, such as where the frenzied artist smashes the bronze likeness of the woman who had come between him and his wife, the direction is very good. This is an ordinarily good program picture of the sort that the majority of audiences like. Lloyd Whitlock does well as the husband, and Clara Kimball Young gives an intelligent and pleasing portrayal of the wife. Katherine McGuire is very lovely as the model. STORY OF THE PLAY Vivian Hunt, anxious to see her husband succeed in his art, is instrumental in bringing a beautiful model into his studio, with whom he eventually falls in love. The result is that the bronze statue for which she is posing becomes merely a life-size likeness of the model, instead of expressing the idea which it was intended to portray. Things go from bad to worse until the patient wife decides to give her husband his freedom that he may marry the woman he believes he loves. At last the man sees his folly and, returning to his wife, he finds that through the sorrow she has borne on his account she has become to him the inspiration for which he has searched in vain. PROGRAM COPY — “The Woman in Bronze” — Clara Kimball Young Sorrow caused by a faithless husband transformed Vivian Hunt into the creature of soulful beauty for which her artist husband had sought in vain. Come and see how a bronze likeness inspired by an unholy love destroyed success. Clara Kimball Young is the star. “BUCKING THE BARRIER”— [Class B] 65% (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — Alaskan Miner Who Becomes Heir to Stranger’s Fortune VALUE CAST Photography — Good — Lucien Andriot. Kit Carew Dustin Farnum TYPE OF PICTURE — Ordinary adventure. Blanche Cavandish Arline Pretty Moral Standard — Average. Luke Cavandish Leon Barry Cyril Cavandish Hay ford Hobbs Story — Good — Melodrama — Family. Frank Fairfax Corlin Chase Star — Good — Dustin Farnum. Tyson Sidney Dalbrook Author — Good— George Goodchild. Direction — Good — Colin Campbell. Adaptation — Fair— Jack Strumwasser. Technique — Good. 1 — ■ Spiritual Influence — Neutral. May 1 to IS, 1923. Producer — Fox Footage — 4, 5616 ft. Distributor — Fox Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None. Unconvincing Adaptation of Average Good Story — Star Good — Cast Fair “Bucking the Barrier” is based on a good story, but shows evidence of a hurry job in the making. Or is it merely that the director working from a poorly constructed continuity failed to sense that certain situations and developments were unconvincing. It seems as though a great deal should have been made of Kit Carew’s return to civilization to claim the fortune left him by a dead pal; but instead of working out big, a series of confused events that seem to be taken for granted happen, and when it is all over the spectator is not apt to feel any large interest in anything except the excellent work done by Lucien Andriot in photographing the picture. Dustin Farnum gives a good performance as Kit Carew, and both Leon Barry and Hayford Hobbs are satisfactory in the roles they play. Arline Pretty, on the other hand, is not altogether equal to the requirements of the heroine. STORY OF THE PLAY Kit Carew, an Alaskan miner, is left a fortune by a dying pal to prevent it going to the sick man’s stepchildren, with whom he has had a disagreement. On Kit’s arrival in England to claim the bequest, he is blackjacked by hirelings of Luke Cavandish, when has been in charge of the estate, but an attempt to gain possession of Fairfax’s will is prevented by Kit’s quick recovery of his senses. Under an assumed name he metes out punishment to the Cavandish family. And when he finds himself falling in love with Blanche, the sister, and has about decided to bear with a lot of things, Blanche learns of his identity and, believing that his apparent interest in her is merely a means of revenge, she refuses to have anything to do with him. On, his return to the Klondike he orders the estate placed in Blanche’s name. Later they meet In Alaska, where Blanche, who left England before learning of Kit’s generous act, finally promises to marry him. PROGRAM COPY — “Bucking the Barrier” — Featuring Dustin Farnum Kit Carew’s adventures with a windfall of fortune make a story that is going to interest you. Romance, snow atmosphere and many attributes that you’ll like are to be found in “Bucking the Barrier,” with Dustin Farnum starring. , No Advertising Support Accepted!